The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-10-14

VINO makes Ills peSglhS proiessloht
to the blind and aged pauper--whose
body bent and tumbling from years
and disease, made him q repulsive
object Of charity.
The Chaplain was about moving
off when a slight touch of hand on
his shoulder caused him to turn,
and he beheld at his side, as sorry a
piece Of humanity, as it ever pleased
nature in her gloomiest mood to
turn out. Bent with years, and by
rheumatism as gnarled as a veritable
patriarch Of Oaks-a creature erect
on legs, and bearing the outward
semblance of q man stood before
him. The shaking hand was extend
ed towards him, and the enfeebled
voice, in piteous accent begged for
aims. Lazarus in the darkest days
OF his adversely, when compared
with the creature, would loom up as
prince. No rich man whose soul
had passed behind the veil of mys-
terry, could summon fortitude
enough TO ask that this beggar be
permitted to drop drop of water
on his tongue; II he did, the sto-
mach Of the spirit--if theologians
will allow us to presume that spirits
have stomachs-would betake it TO
such upheavings as to rid the soul
Of its desire for grace. Quickly
dropping a small coin into his dirty
hands, he turned away with his
ears bowling with the echoes of the
Peruvian benedictions that were
heaped upon bis head.
BY this time night was fairly on,
and the thick penetrating dew that
here takes the place of rain, began
falling, making outdoor ramblings
dangerous as well as disagreeable,
admonished the party either to re-
turn to the ship or seek some con-
genial shelter. 1t CHANGED that the
loquacious midshipman undertook
the guidance of the party and soon
landed them before the counter of
large and rather dingy look store,
whose general appearance wildly
recalled the picture drawn by
Dickens of the old Curiosity Shop.
The Chaplain wondered what next
would be the conductors move,
when his wonderment was changed
to absolute astonishment, when the
MILDLY, with a perfectly at home air,
called for bottle of cognac. The
desired article was instantly forth
coming, and placed before them by
a smlrking, gaudy looking creature,
whose "togarm versicalorum" sug-
gested her once intimate acquain-
lance with the gilded haunts of the
London slums. Filling the glasses
the loquacious one, with an air Of
brotherly consideration for the coun-
ter-tender, pressed her joining them
which invitation was accepted with
a smile, and what was intended to
be an admiriDg glance of the eye.
The Chaplain feeling that the con-
sideration due the dignity of his
clothe had been disregarded by this
action refused to accept the glass
rendered him, stating in tones of
well meant sternness that such con-
duct as that he had just witnessed,
was highly unbecoming an office and
a gentleman, was about leaving the
place, when one of his companions
drawing him aside, told him with
great frankness, that a glass of
cognac under the present condition
of affairs, was an absolute necessity
inasmuch as the dew had dampened
his clothing, it alone would prevent
the terrible consequences of an at
tack of Peruvian rheumatism, the
intensity of the agony of which was
something appalling. Being thus
persuaded the Reverend gentleman
swallowed the liquor, and with so
much satisfaction that the usual
quotum of water was forgotten. In
the meanwhile the exchange of SYM
pathizing glasses had so far been
carried on between the Sonora de la
Casa and the midshipman, that he
with an air of perfect security, went
around the counter, and assuming q
vacant chair, began presiding as
the genius of the place. How far
matters would have gone, or to what
ends they would have come, no one
could tell, had not the Chaplain,
with look of calm unfinching de-
termination seized his cane and bid
ding the rest to follow or not as
they pleased quit the store. Poor
benighted creature he in the inno-
cence of his ecclesiastic nature, had
made no allowance for the frolicsome
heyday of the young blood. So
wrapt up was he in the cold impene-
trable cloak of his own purity, he
could tolerate naught but goodness
in others. Of course they all fol-
lowed him, nor could any argument
persuaded him to remain longer
ashore, he felt like one who had
been cast into the fiery furnace and
coming out unscathed he longed for
the security of his room.
(To be continued.)